City Council is trying to decide whether the municipality would buy the land from Kevin Jordan and lease it to golf course firm Craig & Coin, which designed a 9-hole course. Several members of the White Hawk neighborhood in the city’s west side went to City Council Feb. 27 to air grievances about what they call a rushed process to decide on the course four years after a previous lease ran out. Jordan said he wants to have an outcome that works for everybody, while Craig & Coin said it needs an approval decided quickly enough to begin construction in April. Council ultimately decided to continue land sale negotiations with Jordan.

It’s the latest choice in a four-year long golf course debate in a Bixby, Okla. community: whether or not the city should purchase land that used to be an 18-hole course, and use it for just a 9-hole course, KJRH reported.

Several members of the White Hawk neighborhood in the city’s west side went to Bixby City Council chambers on Feb. 27 to air grievances about what they call a rushed process to decide on the course four years after a previous lease ran out.

White Hawk HOA President Brian Cozad said the landowner, Kevin Jordan, gets preferential treatment from business relationships with City Manager Jared Cottle, and only sent out a letter to residents last week which was nine days after it was first discussed by city council, KJRH reported.

Jordan denies any unethical business partnership with the city.

The council has to consider if it would purchase the land from Jordan and lease to the company that designed the 9-hole course, KJRH reported.

“I would like the developer to unequivocally say the property is for sale for a certain price, or is not for sale,” Cozad said. “The problem is there has been numerous buyers. He won’t sell. So he wants to play both sides.”

Jordan said he would like to have an outcome that works for everybody.

“We hope there’s a golf course,” Jordan said to KJRH. “We hope that that brings peace. I would love to have a win-win situation for the community and the neighbors and obviously for me and my development.”

Tulsa-based golf course firm Craig & Coin said it needs an approval decided quickly enough to begin construction in April in order to fit a timeline to open the course a year from now, KJRH reported.

After two hours in a closed-door executive session, city council on Feb. 27 motioned to have the city manager and city attorney continue negotiations with Jordan regarding the land sale.

City leaders have discussed the acquisition for more than a year.